Thymosin β4 Secretion Due to Apoptotic Drugs in Macrophages and Fibroblasts

Series Title:

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Physical Description:

Serial

Language:

English

Creator:

Uryasev, OlegBubb, Michael ( Mentor )

Publisher:

University of Florida

Place of Publication:

Gainesville, Fla.

Publication Date:

2009

Notes

Abstract:

Thymosin β4 (tß4), a 5 kDa protein, is a mediator of inflammation, with many functions in cellular motility, migration and damage repair. In spite of the fact that apoptotic cells exhibit pro-inflammatory signals, inflammation is absent during apoptosis. We believe that endogenous tß4 is released during apoptosis from cells such as macrophages and fibroblasts, in turn suppressing inflammation. Our primary aims for this project were to develop and refine tß4 detection assays/methods, mainly the ELISA. Competition fluorescence anisotropy was analyzed as a potential method for detecting tß4 in cellular supernatant. The RAW 264.7 macrophage-like cell supernatant contained an unknown factor interfering with exogenous tß4 added to cellular supernatant. We were unable to identify the interfering factor; however we were able to eliminate it through use of a protein concentrator, which likewise helped concentrate tß4 in individual samples. These findings lay the groundwork for further investigation using apoptotic drugs as a tß4 releasing agent in order to suppress inflammation.